"I understand, my lord, that I am to receive from your lips to-night some information of considerable importance to his Majesty, touching those who have been engaged in plotting against his security. May I ask you to proceed at once with what you have to tell me? I have still some distance to ride to-night, and also other work to do." "Yes," answered Fordingbridge, "you have been exactly informed. Yet--how to tell--how to begin, I scarcely know. My object is to put in the King's hands--without, of course, letting it be known that the information comes from me--some facts relating to several notorious Jacobites now sheltering in London. Men who are," he continued, speaking rapidly, "inimical to his Majesty's peace and security, hostile to his rule, and, if I mistake not, bent at the present moment in endeavouring in some way to effect a rescue of the Scotch lords now in confinement at the Tower." A slight smile rose upon his visitor's face as he uttered these last words; then Captain Morris said quietly: "That is hardly likely to come to pass, I should imagine. The Tower does not disgorge its victims freely, certainly not by force. As for the Scotch lords, I am afraid they will only quit the place for their trials and afterwards for Tower Hill." "Yet," remarked Lord Fordingbridge, "the attempt may be made. Of the men I speak of, two are desperate, and both fought at Culloden and the battles that took place during the Pretender's march into England. They will stop at nothing if," with a quick glance at the other, "they are not themselves first stopped." "Give me their names, if you please," said Morris, with military precision, as he produced from his pocket a notebook, "and where they are to be found." "Their names are Bertie Elphinston and Douglas Sholto--the former a kinsman of the Lord Balmarino. Both have lived in exile in France, serving in the French King's army, one in the _Garde du Roi_ at first, and then in the Regiment of Picardy. The other, Sholto, has served in the Mousquetaires." "Their names," said Captain Morris, "are not in the list," and he turned over the leaves of his notebook carefully as he spoke. "But for you, my lord, these men might have escaped justice. 'Tis strange nothing was known of them." "They crossed from France with Charles Edward. Many names of those who accompanied him are probably not known. You may rely on my information. I myself returned but from France some weeks ago. I know them well." "Indeed!" exclaimed Captain Morris. "Indeed! Your lordship doubtless came to support his Majesty shortly after so many of his enemies crossed over." "Precisely. But I will be frank. I should tell you I am myself a converted--perverted, some would say--Jacobite. My father, the late lord, died one, I do not espouse his political faith." Captain Morris bowed gravely; then he said: "And you know, therefore, these gentlemen--these Scotch rebels."